Raiders Rookies Clelin Ferrell, Maxx Crosby Have Impressed Offensive Line

NAPA -- The Raiders' pass rush need was glaring after a season in which the team only sacked the quarterback 13 times. Enter: Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby. 

Head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock put a focus on edge rusher in the draft, selecting Ferrell and Crosby in order to shore up the Silver and Black's greatest weakness from last season. While the expectations are different for each player, both have impressed early on in their Raiders tenure. 

Following the second day of training camp, offensive lineman Trent Brown and Kolton Miller heaped praise on the two rookie edge rushers. 

"Maxx is good. Maxx is good as hell," Brown said. "He can rush the passer. He can defend the run. He has a high motor. He's going to be somebody to watch out for I think." 

Coming out of Eastern Michigan, Crosby is a bit of a wild card as the Raiders head toward the preseason. A fourth-round draft pick, the Raiders have hopes that he can at least contribute some right away. He checked in at 255 pounds at rookie minicamp, so he will need to add some weight in order to go up against NFL blockers. His speed, agility and bend are what makes him a good pass rusher, and he's given Brown a glimpse of that early on in non-padded sessions. 

As for Ferrell, who will be under quite a bit more scrutiny than Crosby, he's already received a glowing report from quarterback Derek Carr, and left tackle Kolton Miller, who Ferrell has been going up against in practice, echoed those sentiments Sunday. 

"He has good speed and he's strong," Miller said when asked about Ferrell. "I think he can hold the edge. I think he'll be an immediate impact on our team."

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The Raiders will put pads on for the first time Monday, which will give the coaches, fans and media the first true look at Ferrell and Crosby up against Brown and Miller, and whether or not all the talk surrounding the young edge rushers has been warranted. 

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